Paul Smith (rock vocalist)

Paul Smith (born 13 March 1979, Stockton-on-Tees), is a musician best known as the singer for the British indie rock group Maxïmo Park.

For other people with the same name, see Paul Smith (disambiguation).

Paul Smith
Smith in 2017.
Background information
Birth namePaul Smith
Born (1979-03-13) 13 March 1979
Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees
GenresIndie rock
Art rock
Occupation(s)Vocalist, Songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar
Years active2000–present
Associated actsMaxïmo Park

Biography
Smith in 2009.

Smith is the eldest of three children, and was educated at Northfield School. He attended Newcastle University completing a BA and MA, studying Art History and English Linguistics, following a 1-year Foundation Studies course at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Hartlepool. He briefly worked as an art teacher[1] at Stockton Riverside College before he was asked to join Maxïmo Park.

Maxïmo Park released their debut album on Warp Records in 2005 and Smith continues to perform and record with the band. He is known for his energetic and passionate performances. Away from the band, he has collaborated with poet Lavinia Greenlaw on a musical adaptation of her poem "Essex Kiss", as well as composing a 26-minute a cappella piece of music for Great North Run Culture. The work is entitled "A Mind Full of Nothing But Continue" and was performed live in 2013 at Sage Gateshead. An as yet unreleased recording of the entire work was made in the spring of 2014 at Dave Maughan's FMP Studio in Newcastle upon Tyne, co-produced by Paul Smith and Dave Maughan.

Smith released his debut solo album Margins in 2010, before undertaking a full European and UK tour. Alongside this release, his first photographic book, "Thinking in Pictures", was released, featuring 74 Polaroids taken over six years. He appeared as a guest editor for The Mays XIX and was an artistic advisor for the 2013 Festival of the North East.

In 2014 Smith teamed up with Field Music singer Peter Brewis to record an album, Frozen by Sight, derived from his travel writing and featuring string arrangements by Brewis.[2]

In 2015 he released Contradictions, a solo album, as Paul Smith and The Intimations,[3] and in 2018, released fourth solo album Diagrams.[4]

Smith is a supporter of the football club Middlesbrough.[5] In the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons, Smith played as a striker for Heaton Rifles (known as Newcastle IJLW Brazil at that time), in the Tyneside Amateur League before leaving due to his growing commitments with Maxïmo Park. In 2016 Smith and his wife welcomed their first child, a girl. Smith should not be confused with his fellow Teessider of the same name, Paul Smith, once a member of band The Toy Dolls.

Solo discography
  • Margins (2010)
  • Frozen By Sight (with Peter Brewis) (2014)
  • Contradictions (as Paul Smith and The Intimations) (2015)
  • Diagrams (2018)

References
  1. Benzine, Adam (30 April 2007). "The 5-Minute Interview: Paul Smith, Singer". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  2. "Maximo Park's Paul Smith and Field Music members team up for new album". NME. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. "PAUL & THE INTIMATIONS SMITH - Contradictions - Amazon.com Music". amazon.com.
  4. Maine, Samantha (15 August 2018). "Maxïmo Park's Paul Smith has announced a new solo album, listen to new track 'Silver Rabbit'". NME. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  5. Earls, John. "Madcap Park frontman on sex, buses & reinforced crotches". News of the World. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
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